Request for Support from Past Player Jon Ballantyne

Borough Members are encouraged to read on below regarding a request from one of our Past Players, Jon Ballantyne, who is participating in a fundraiser to raise awareness and funds for Spinal Cord Research.

Any donations are greatly appreciated.

Project Discovery Ride – Fundraiser for the Neil Sachse Centre and Foundation (Spinal Cord Injury Research & Cure)

G’day Lads,

I trust you and your families are well and you all had a great Xmas & New Year..

I’m hoping for a favour or two, that you might be able to assist me with a Spinal Cord Research and Cure Fundraiser I am participating in. A late call up when a Western Bulldogs Past Player unfortunately had to pull out due to injury.

One of my drivers for doing this, does in part relate to both the Port Melbourne and one the it’s legendary Past Players. From time to time we’re all more than happy to time to raise money for a great cause, which has some personal meaning behind it. As part of the fundraiser for the Neil Sachse Centre and Foundation I will be completing a Project Discovery Ride from the 18 Feb to 20 Feb from Adelaide to Barossa, to raise both awareness and funds for Spinal Cord Research.

Most AFL enthusiasts may already know the story behind the Neil Sachse Foundation which he founded in 1994. Neil when playing for Footscray vs Fitzroy in 1975 tragically injured his spinal cord in only his second game of AFL, and as a result became a quadriplegic. Neil passed away in August last year, however many wonderful people and organisations, including the Bulldogs Past Players group, are keeping Neil’s dream alive. Which was his passion and dedication to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, by raising money for his foundation to fund much needed research. Another reason is also quite close to home for many of us, with one of our great Port Melbourne Teammates Ross Napoli, who as you know also suffered a similar injury playing for Footscray District Football league Parkside in 1999.

Currently, more than 15,000 people with spinal cord injury are living in our community, with 400 new cases occurring every year. Today they will never walk again. The Neil Sachse Centre is dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injury. Any donation supports vital research in the hope of one day finding a cure:

https://www.spinalcordresearch.org.au/

To donate money please see the following link to my MyCause fundraiser site:

https://www.mycause.com.au/page/243583/jon-ballantyne

With that I would be grateful if you could assist in the hope of a donation, our to help get this message out and forward on to any Past Players or people you know who might also be willing to donate funds for a worthy cause.

Thanks gents.. And I hope at the very least we can catch up at the Port Melbourne Past Players lunch this year, all going well.

Cheers boys,

JON BALLANTYNE